Nick van der MeerWorship Leader

MY STORY

Nick has played on worship teams and led worship for nearly 20 years.

He and his family moved to Gainesville from New Orleans in 2016. After several months of God closing doors in New Orleans and opening them in Gainesville, they took a leap of faith and made the move. They started going to Shift because of the authentic love it has for its community and anyone who walks through its doors.

FAVORITE

Book: Catch-22 by Joseph Heller; Mere Christianity by C.S. LewisFood: My wife’s homemade lasagnaTV Show: All time – X-Files and Futurama; Currently – The Good PlaceSnack Food: Whatever is close Movie: This is tough…I’ll say Raiders of the Lost Ark and reserve the right to change it.Musical Artists: Jeff Buckley, Foo Fighters, Jason Isbell, The DecemberistsTime of Day: DuskPlace in the World: 30°40’83.92”N, 90°14’36.91”WPlace to Pray: With my family before bedtimeRecreational Activities/Hobbies: Pretending I can make things with woodVerses from the Bible: Ezekiel 2:1-10, John 4:23-24Sport: Hockey

LEAST FAVORITE

Food: Shrimp give me migraines…does that count?Snack Food: I don’t know…pork rinds maybe?Place in the World: I-10 between Houston and BeaumontTime of Day: The times I’ve driven on I-10 between Houston and Beaumont

FUN FACTS

Life Motto: Have you seen my keys/wallet?Three People I’d Like to Meet: Any three cast members from FuturamaMy Hero: My GrandpaMost People Don’t Know This About Me: I am really good at Trivial Pursuit, and know all the words to Regulate by Warren G feat. Nate DoggOne of My Greatest Experiences with God: When my daughter was born she had severe meconium aspiration. My wife and I spent the first two months of her life living in the NICU. For what seemed like forever, the doctors didn’t know if she was going to make it. But our friends and family never stopped praying for her, my wife, and me throughout our stay. They prayed for us even when we were too tired, too broken, and too angry to pray for ourselves. And God listened. He healed our daughter and gave her a brilliant mind, a loving and thoughtful personality, and a heavy dose of crazy fun. She is a constant reminder of God’s power and how he affects our lives in concrete, tangible ways.

"Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars."

− Kahlil Gibran

"Past the tree line and into the forest, the smell of the damp soil from which the ferns grew filled his nostrils and tightened the knot in his stomach; The burning from blisters on his right hand, amplified by the vine-and-sapling-dulled machete held in it, reminded him with every heartbeat that this had to be the way."